When is hurricane season in the Caribbean?

From 1 June to 30 November, with the statistical peak around 10 September and most activity between mid-August and mid-October. Outside this window, the Caribbean is practically sunny and dry throughout.

Do you need a visa for a Caribbean trip?

Not for vacations in most destinations on this page: a passport valid through departure is enough, often supplemented by an electronic pre-arrival form. The exception is Cuba, which requires an online visa; Puerto Rico, like the rest of the USA, needs ESTA authorization.

Is a trip to Cuba advisable?

Cuba is more demanding than other Caribbean destinations: the power grid is fault-prone, medical care is limited and card payment is unreliable. Check the current situation with the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA before booking and carry enough cash.

How strong can Caribbean hurricanes get?

The strongest Atlantic hurricanes reach Category 5 with wind speeds above 250 km/h and can hit individual islands hard. The National Hurricane Center issues warnings for every storm; during the season, travel insurance with return-trip cover is part of the planning.

What is sargassum, and where does it occur?

Sargassum is a brown seaweed that drifts from the Atlantic in large mats onto many eastern and southern Caribbean coasts, especially from spring to fall, peaking in June. According to NASA satellite data, the amount varies strongly from year to year; the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and parts of Jamaica are affected most.

How do you get from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico without flying?

The shipping company Ferries del Caribe connects Santo Domingo with San Juan by sea. Travelers without a vehicle should be at the terminal at least three hours before departure.

How do you get from San Juan to Vieques or Culebra?

From Ceiba on Puerto Rico's east coast, the public Puerto Rico Ferry runs to Vieques in around one hour and to Culebra in around one and a half hours, with no rental car or charter flight needed.

Which languages are spoken in the Caribbean?

Spanish in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, English in Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, French in Guadeloupe and Martinique, and Dutch alongside Papiamento in Aruba and Curaçao.

Can you pay by credit card in Cuba?

Not reliably. According to the Federal Foreign Office, Visa and Mastercard payments work only to a limited extent or not at all in Cuba. Travelers should carry cash in US dollars or euros.

Which Caribbean destinations are UNESCO World Heritage sites?

Among the 15 destinations on this page, there are seven sites: Havana (1982) and Trinidad (1988) in Cuba, the colonial city of Santo Domingo (1990), Old San Juan with La Fortaleza (1983), the garrison of Bridgetown in Barbados (2011), the Pitons of St. Lucia (2004), and the old town of Willemstad in Curaçao (1997).

How much time do you need to combine several Greater Antilles?

For Cuba and the Dominican Republic, or the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, two to three weeks are realistic, since both countries offer independent regions with multiple stops. A pure stopover is barely worthwhile given the limited flight and ferry connections.

Is traveling to the Caribbean cheaper during hurricane season?

Usually yes: between June and November, flights and hotels in many destinations are cheaper and less booked out than in the high season from December to April. Travel insurance covering cancellation and early return is especially advisable during this time.

What vaccinations does healthytravel.ch recommend for the Caribbean?

For the Dominican Republic, healthytravel.ch names an active Zika transmission area and advises pregnant women against travel; a dengue vaccine (Qdenga) has been registered in Switzerland since July 2024. Consistent daytime mosquito protection is generally recommended.

Do you need a US visa for Puerto Rico?

No, but you need ESTA authorization, because Puerto Rico is a US territory. According to US customs authority CBP, this must be applied for online at least 72 hours before departure and remains valid for around two years.

Which Caribbean destinations are best for diving?

The Cayman Islands, with drop-offs off Grand Cayman, are considered one of the region's best-known diving destinations. The reefs off Turks and Caicos and the year-round calm sea of the ABC islands are also popular with divers.

How do the Lesser and Greater Antilles differ?

The Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands) are larger in area and culturally denser, while the Lesser Antilles consist of smaller, often volcanic islands under varying administration, from independent states to French overseas départements.

How many people visited the Caribbean by cruise in 2025?

Exact figures exist only per destination: globally, the cruise industry reached 37.2 million passengers in 2025, of which around 43% of global cruise capacity went to the Caribbean.

What does entry to Cuba cost?

The online visa eVisaCuba and the D'Viajeros advance registration must be applied for separately; exact fees change, and the current information from the Cuban representation is authoritative. In addition, the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA require a passport valid for at least six months.

Are the Cayman Islands more expensive than other Caribbean destinations?

Tending toward yes, partly because the Cayman dollar has been fixed to the US dollar since 1974 (1 KYD = 1.20 USD) and the country, as an offshore financial center, has a generally high price level.

Caribbean: Islands Compared, Best Time, Hurricanes and Routes

Q: Which Caribbean destinations lie outside the hurricane belt?

Aruba and Curaçao (the ABC islands) lie near the Venezuelan coast, outside the actual hurricane belt, and are therefore easily travelable year-round, including from June to November.

Q: Is Jamaica quickly travelable again after a hurricane?

Generally yes. The major resort areas of Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril and Kingston usually reopen within weeks after storms, while individual coastal stretches and hotels take longer. Before booking, ask the provider about the condition of your chosen accommodation.

What defines the Caribbean as a destination?

In short

The Caribbean is not a single unit but around 30 states and territories across more than 700 islands, from the Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic to French Martinique to the British Cayman Islands. This page organizes four sub-regions — the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, the ABC islands and the Lucayan Archipelago (the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands) — and compares best time to visit, entry, costs and routes.

Politically, the region is a patchwork: sovereign states such as Cuba, Jamaica or Barbados sit alongside overseas territories such as Guadeloupe and Martinique (France), Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (USA), and the Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands (United Kingdom). For travelers, this means different entry rules, currencies and official languages packed into a small area.

This page covers the 15 destinations of the first expansion wave: the Greater Antilles — Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the Cayman Islands; the Lesser Antilles — Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago; the ABC islands — Aruba and Curaçao; and the Lucayan Archipelago with the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Each destination has its own page with details.

Most destinations share the hurricane season from June to November, warm to hot year-round climate, and an economy heavily reliant on cruise and beach tourism: in 2025, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, around 43% of global cruise capacity went to the Caribbean. How strongly a destination depends on tourism is shown by the Dominican Republic, which reported the region's largest visitor volume in 2025 with 11.6 million arrivals.

The differences are nonetheless large: the ABC islands lie outside the hurricane belt near the Venezuelan coast, while Cuba and Jamaica regularly lie in the path of strong hurricanes. Anyone planning a Caribbean trip should therefore choose the sub-destination first and only then set the timing.

Sources: Cruise Hive (with figures from the CLIA State of the Cruise Industry Report 2026) · Caribbean Journal · National Hurricane Center (NOAA) · Bonaire.com

How do the Caribbean's four sub-regions differ?

In short

The Greater Antilles offer the largest countries and the most cultural and city-trip substance, the Lesser Antilles smaller, often volcanic islands under French, British or independent administration, the ABC islands lie outside the hurricane belt, and the Lucayan Archipelago of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands thrives on flat sandbanks and short distances from North America. No visa is needed for vacations in most destinations, except Cuba (as of September 2026).

The four sub-regions compared (selection of Wave 1 destinations, as of September 2026)
Sub-region	Example destinations	Character	Hurricane risk	Safety per foreign ministries
Greater Antilles	Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands	largest islands, colonial cities, all-inclusive coasts	high, June to November	highly varied: Cuba with structural supply problems, Cayman Islands with no special notices
Lesser Antilles	Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago	volcanic island chains, sailing and diving grounds	high, June to November	mostly calm, isolated crime notices
ABC islands	Aruba, Curaçao	dry, outside the hurricane belt, travelable year-round	very low	FDFA/Federal Foreign Office/BMEIA list no special warnings
Lucayan Archipelago	Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands	flat sandbanks, short distance to Florida, cruise hub	high, June to November	mostly calm outside a few neighborhoods of Nassau

On entry, the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA agree for 14 of the 15 destinations: no visa is needed for vacations, a passport valid for the length of the stay is enough, often supplemented by an electronic form before entry. The exception is Cuba, where an online visa via eVisaCuba and advance registration via D'Viajeros are mandatory.

On safety, the destinations vary widely. The Cayman Islands and the ABC islands have almost no advisories, while the Federal Foreign Office cites a very high nationwide crime rate for the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cuba. Cuba is a special case: power outages and limited medical care are a structural problem there; check the current situation with the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA before booking.

Summaries only; the current travel advisories from the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA for the respective destination country are authoritative.

Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Bonaire.com · Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (Explore Cayman)

When is the best time to visit the Caribbean?

In short

According to the National Hurricane Center, hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, with the statistical peak around 10 September; most activity falls between mid-August and mid-October. Outside this window, roughly December to April, practically the whole Caribbean is dry and sunny; the ABC islands lie outside the hurricane belt year-round.

Hurricane season: Individual hurricanes reach Category 5 with wind speeds above 250 km/h and can disrupt an island for weeks to months, even though most seasons pass without a hit on any particular destination. The National Hurricane Center publishes warnings and final reports for every storm.

Anyone traveling during hurricane season should take out travel insurance covering cancellation and early return, and follow National Hurricane Center weather warnings. Outside active storm days, summer and fall are still good travel times in many destinations, usually cheaper and less booked out.

Dry and rainy season: In the Greater and Lesser Antilles and the Lucayan Archipelago, December to April is the drier, cooler travel time, with daytime highs usually between 26 and 30 °C; May to November is more humid and warmer. The north coasts (for example of Puerto Rico or Jamaica) receive more rainfall year-round than the south coasts in the rain shadow of the mountains.

Greater Antilles: Havana, Montego Bay, Punta Cana and San Juan

Havanna	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	27	28	29	31	31	32	33	33	32	30	29	27
Low °C	16	17	17	19	21	23	23	23	23	21	19	17
Rainfall mm	30	29	23	33	64	108	83	108	102	87	45	30

Montego Bay	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	30	31	31	32	33	33	34	34	33	33	32	31
Low °C	22	22	23	24	24	25	25	25	25	25	24	23
Rainfall mm	44	34	47	57	150	150	109	146	190	217	131	50

Punta Cana	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	29	29	29	30	31	31	32	32	32	32	30	30
Low °C	21	21	21	22	23	24	25	24	24	23	23	22
Rainfall mm	38	26	26	46	75	50	55	67	74	68	79	46

San Juan	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	29	29	30	31	31	32	32	32	33	32	31	30
Low °C	22	22	23	23	24	25	26	26	26	25	24	23
Rainfall mm	51	45	61	77	129	90	100	130	162	161	137	64

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station JOSE MARTI INTL (17 km, 64 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SANGSTER INTL (4 km, 1 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station PUNTA CANA INTL (4 km, 14 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station LUIS MUNOZ MARIN INTERNATIONAL AP (6 km, 3 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

Lesser Antilles: From Antigua to Trinidad, the climate is more evenly warm, with a somewhat more pronounced rainy season from June to November. Trinidad lies at the southern edge of the hurricane belt and is hit directly less often than the islands further north.

Lesser Antilles: St. John's, Bridgetown, Castries and Port of Spain

St. John's	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	28	29	29	29	30	31	31	31	31	31	30	29
Low °C	23	22	23	23	24	25	25	25	25	25	24	23
Rainfall mm	41	29	35	52	91	92	114	135	143	176	132	70

Bridgetown	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	30	30	30	31	31	31	31	31	32	31	31	30
Low °C	24	24	24	25	26	26	26	26	26	26	25	25
Rainfall mm	34	19	19	28	51	72	74	95	98	132	107	49

Castries	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	29	29	30	31	31	31	31	32	32	32	31	30
Low °C	23	23	23	24	25	25	25	25	25	25	24	24
Rainfall mm	68	44	48	97	102	136	154	179	182	189	159	85

Port of Spain	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	31	31	32	33	33	32	32	33	33	33	32	31
Low °C	21	22	22	23	24	24	24	23	24	24	23	22
Rainfall mm	100	61	52	56	117	222	202	202	141	176	213	178

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station V C BIRD INTL (6 km, 19 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station GRANTLEY ADAMS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (14 km, 52 m), auf 1 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station GEORGE F L CHARLES AIRPORT (1 km, 2 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station PIARCO INTL AP (21 km, 12 m), auf 66 m umgerechnet. Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

ABC islands: Aruba and Curaçao, with under 500 mm of annual rainfall, are considerably drier than the rest of the Caribbean and travelable practically year-round, because they lie outside the actual hurricane belt. The Lucayan Archipelago (the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands), by contrast, sits right in the middle of the storm zone, but its proximity to Florida makes it a popular short-trip destination for North American visitors.

Oranjestad, Willemstad, Nassau and Providenciales

Oranjestad	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	31	31	31	32	32	33	33	34	33	33	32	31
Low °C	25	25	25	26	27	27	27	27	27	27	26	25
Rainfall mm	29	15	10	11	21	21	26	27	51	94	90	60

Willemstad	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	30	30	31	31	32	32	32	33	33	32	31	30
Low °C	24	25	25	26	26	27	27	27	27	26	25	25
Rainfall mm	41	22	10	13	18	22	27	26	45	82	117	64

Nassau	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	27	28	28	30	31	32	33	33	33	31	29	28
Low °C	19	19	20	22	23	25	26	26	25	24	22	20
Rainfall mm	38	33	40	61	127	162	130	154	164	119	68	40

Providenciales	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	27	28	28	29	30	31	32	32	32	31	29	28
Low °C	23	23	23	24	25	27	27	27	27	26	25	24
Rainfall mm	27	20	21	26	66	45	31	48	68	83	58	32

Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station QUEEN BEATRIX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (3 km, 18 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station HATO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (10 km, 9 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station NASSAU INTL / LYNDEN PINDLING INTL (14 km, 5 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station PROVIDENCIALES (1 km, 5 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.

Sargassum: From spring to fall, peaking in June, brown sargassum seaweed drifts onto many eastern and southern Caribbean coasts, especially in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and parts of Jamaica. According to NASA satellite data, the amount varies strongly from year to year; rotting seaweed smells of rotten eggs and can make stretches of beach unattractive for days, but rarely affects all of a destination's beaches at once.

Sources: National Hurricane Center (NOAA) · National Hurricane Center (NOAA) · NASA Earth Observatory · Bonaire.com

Which destinations belong to which Caribbean sub-region?

In short

The Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands) offer the largest countries and the most colonial architecture. The Lesser Antilles stretch from Antigua to Trinidad, the ABC islands (Aruba, Curaçao) lie outside the hurricane belt, and the Lucayan Archipelago (the Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands) combines flat sand islands with short distances from Florida.

Greater Antilles: Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands

Cuba, with Havana — whose old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982 — and the colonial city of Trinidad (World Heritage since 1988), is culturally the densest destination of the Greater Antilles. Structural problems are the fault-prone power grid, limited medical care and unreliable card payment; check the current situation with the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA.

Jamaica lies in the path of Atlantic hurricanes; the major resort areas Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril and Kingston are usually reopened within weeks after storms, while individual coastal stretches and hotels take longer. Anyone traveling in hurricane season checks the condition of the chosen accommodation before booking.

The Dominican Republic reported a record 11.6 million visitors in 2025, of whom 7.88 million arrived by air and around 2.8 million by cruise ship. The colonial city of Santo Domingo has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990 and is considered the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas. The Federal Foreign Office warns of armed robberies, often by motorcyclists, and of one of the world's highest traffic fatality rates.

Puerto Rico is a US territory: Swiss, German and Austrian visitors enter with the same ESTA procedure as for the USA, which according to US customs authority CBP must be applied for at least 72 hours before departure and remains valid for around two years. La Fortaleza and the fortifications of Old San Juan have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, and a ferry trip to the neighboring islands of Vieques and Culebra is possible without a rental car.

The Cayman Islands are a British overseas territory with no special safety notices from the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office or the BMEIA; according to the government tourism page, Swiss, German and Austrian visitors enter visa-free but need a return ticket. The island group is known for Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman and for diving grounds such as the drop-offs in front of the reef.

Lesser Antilles: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago

Antigua and Barbuda uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar (fixed to the US dollar since 1976 at 2.70 EC$ per USD) and welcomes long-haul visitors via V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU) near the capital St. John's. Barbados, with the garrison of Bridgetown declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011 and Grantley Adams Airport (BGI, around 2.4 million passengers annually), is one of the best-connected Lesser Antilles.

Guadeloupe and Martinique are French overseas départements: the national currency is the euro, and entry and exit work as within the EU. On Guadeloupe, the volcano La Soufrière is a hiking destination, on Martinique the Montagne Pelée, whose eruption on 8 May 1902 destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre and killed around 30,000 people.

St. Lucia is known for the Pitons, two extinct volcanic cones (Gros Piton 798 m, Petit Piton 743 m) that have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the Pitons Management Area since 2004; the island has two international airports, George F. L. Charles (SLU) near the capital Castries and Hewanorra (UVF) in the south. Trinidad and Tobago lies at the southern edge of the hurricane belt, uses the Trinidad and Tobago dollar, and is known for its Carnival in February or March; the main airport, Piarco (POS), is near the capital Port of Spain.

ABC islands: Aruba and Curaçao

Aruba and Curaçao lie near the Venezuelan coast, outside the actual hurricane belt, and are therefore travelable year-round. Aruba uses the Aruban florin and relies heavily on large hotel complexes and casinos; Curaçao's capital, Willemstad, with its colorful trading houses, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Curaçao introduced the Caribbean guilder as a new currency on 31 March 2025, replacing the old Netherlands Antillean guilder.

Lucayan Archipelago: Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands

The Bahamas consist of more than 700 islands; the capital Nassau is served by Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS), the Bahamian dollar is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, and both currencies circulate on equal footing. The Turks and Caicos Islands use the US dollar directly as legal tender; most international flights land at Providenciales (PLS) near Grace Bay, repeatedly voted the world's best beach.

Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · National Hurricane Center (NOAA) · AFAR · Travel And Tour World · Caribbean Journal · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · U.S. Customs and Border Protection · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Puerto Rico Ferry (Puerto Rico Maritime Transport Authority) · Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (Explore Cayman) · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Bonaire.com · Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board (Visit TCI)

Which types of trip suit which Caribbean destination?

In short

Beach vacations at all-inclusive resorts are the domain of the Dominican Republic, of Jamaica's resort-lined beaches and of Aruba; cruises call at practically every major port, from Nassau to Bridgetown. Cuba, Puerto Rico and Curaçao suit culture and city trips, the Cayman Islands suit diving, and families with children find flat, calm beaches in Turks and Caicos.

Beach vacations and all-inclusive

The Dominican Republic, with Punta Cana, is the Caribbean's largest all-inclusive destination and reported around 11.6 million arrivals in 2025. Negril and Montego Bay in Jamaica, large parts of Aruba, and Cancún-like resort zones in Providenciales (Turks and Caicos Islands) also thrive on this model: flight, hotel and meals are usually included in the package price, with excursions booked separately.

Cruises

Around 43% of global cruise capacity went to the Caribbean in 2025; major ports are in Nassau (Bahamas), Bridgetown (Barbados), George Town (Grand Cayman), Willemstad (Curaçao) and several cities in the Dominican Republic. Traveling by ship lets you see several islands in a short time, but you often spend only a few hours ashore — for destinations like Cuba or Trinidad and Tobago that deserve more time, an overland trip is a better fit.

Culture and city trips

Cuba, with the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Havana and Trinidad, the colonial city of Santo Domingo, and Old San Juan in Puerto Rico offer the region's densest colonial architecture. Willemstad in Curaçao adds Dutch trading history to the mix. A trip to Cuba takes more planning than other Caribbean trips: power outages, limited card payments and fault-prone flight operations call for more buffer time and cash reserves.

Diving and snorkeling

The Cayman Islands, with drop-offs off Grand Cayman and the abundance of fish off Little Cayman, are considered one of the Caribbean's best-known diving destinations. Bonaire (outside this page) and the reefs off Turks and Caicos are also known for visibility exceeding 30 m; the dry, year-round calm sea of the ABC islands allows diving practically independent of season.

Active and nature trips

The Pitons of St. Lucia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004, are a classic hiking destination, as are the volcanoes La Soufrière (Guadeloupe) and Montagne Pelée (Martinique). Trinidad and Tobago is known for birdwatching, including in the rainforest of northeastern Trinidad.

Honeymoons and weddings

Small, quiet islands such as Barbuda, St. Lucia or the Turks and Caicos Islands specifically court honeymoon couples; Grace Bay in Providenciales has repeatedly been voted the world's best beach. Anyone seeking calm away from cruise passengers avoids days with several announced ships in port.

Family vacations

Flat sandy beaches without strong currents, such as those offered by the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, or the north coast of the Dominican Republic, are especially suited for families with small children. Large resort complexes in Punta Cana and Montego Bay also offer childcare and family rooms as standard.

Sources: Caribbean Journal · Cruise Hive (with figures from the CLIA State of the Cruise Industry Report 2026) · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Federal Foreign Office, Germany

How do you combine several Caribbean destinations in one trip?

In short

Within the Greater Antilles, the ferry operator Ferries del Caribe connects Santo Domingo with San Juan; otherwise, travel between the island groups practically always runs via regional flights, since there is no through ferry network between the states. Within a single country such as Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic, short domestic flights or, in Puerto Rico's case, public ferries to Vieques and Culebra are common.

Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico: the only through ferry connection

The shipping company Ferries del Caribe connects Santo Domingo (San Souci Terminal) with San Juan (Muelle Panamericano II); according to the booking site, travelers without a vehicle should be at the terminal at least three hours before departure, and those with a vehicle six hours. The route is thus one of the few ways to connect two Greater Antilles countries by sea instead of by air.

Within Puerto Rico: San Juan, Vieques and Culebra

From San Juan, a 12-minute ferry also runs to Cataño on the other side of the bay. From Ceiba on the east coast, the Puerto Rico Ferry takes travelers to Vieques in around one hour and to Culebra in around one and a half hours — both islands can thus be added without a rental car or charter flight, and suit a quiet finish to a San Juan trip.

Combining Cuba with Cancún or Miami

Especially careful planning is worthwhile for Cuba: fuel supply and flight operations are fault-prone, airlines frequently adjust connections, and direct European flights are not the rule. Anyone wanting to add Cuba should first check the current connection via a hub such as Madrid or Cancún.

Cruises as a connecting option

Anyone wanting to see several Lesser Antilles in one trip usually does so by cruise rather than scheduled flights: direct flight connections between individual island states are rare and often only possible via San Juan, Miami or another hub. Classic eastern Caribbean routes connect, for example, San Juan, St. Lucia, Barbados and Antigua over seven to ten days.

The ABC islands as a circuit of their own

Aruba and Curaçao combine well in one trip because of the short distance and similar climate; both lie outside the hurricane belt and are therefore also an option from June to November, when other parts of the Caribbean are in storm season.

There is no through public ferry network between the individual states of the Lesser Antilles; connections change frequently. Check the current ferry or airline directly before every booking.

Sources: Ferries del Caribe · Puerto Rico Ferry (Puerto Rico Maritime Transport Authority) · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Cruise Hive (with figures from the CLIA State of the Cruise Industry Report 2026) · Bonaire.com

How do you fly to the Caribbean?

In short

The main long-haul gateways are Havana (HAV), Santo Domingo (SDQ) and Punta Cana (PUJ), San Juan (SJU), Montego Bay (MBJ), Nassau (NAS) and several Lesser Antilles destinations. From Europe, nonstop flights to the Caribbean run mainly from Madrid, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London and Paris; from North America, Miami is by far the largest hub.

Nonstop connections at selected Caribbean airports (selection, as of September 2026)
Arrival airport	from Europe	from North America	Note
Havana (HAV)	Madrid, Frankfurt	Miami (around 42 nonstop flights per week)	27 airports worldwide with direct flights to Havana
Santo Domingo (SDQ)	Rome, Madrid	New York, Miami, Panama City	50 nonstop destinations in 33 countries
Punta Cana (PUJ)	Madrid, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Lisbon	New York-JFK, Atlanta, Miami	95 nonstop destinations in 30 countries
Montego Bay (MBJ)	London, Frankfurt, Milan, Düsseldorf, Amsterdam	Miami, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, New York, Philadelphia	53 nonstop destinations in 16 countries
San Juan (SJU)	Madrid	New York, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Philadelphia	61 nonstop destinations in 13 countries; the only nonstop European connection, to Madrid
Grand Cayman (GCM)	none	Atlanta, New York-JFK, Minneapolis, Detroit, Los Angeles	29 nonstop destinations in 7 countries

From Europe, Madrid is by far the most densely connected hub for the Spanish-speaking Caribbean; Punta Cana is also served nonstop from Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich. The Lesser Antilles often have only a few European nonstop connections, for example to Barbados or Antigua; a connection via London, Amsterdam, Paris or Miami is usually needed.

Cuba is a special case: fuel supply and flight operations are fault-prone, and airlines frequently adjust their connections there. The current flight situation should be checked before every booking.

Within the Caribbean, numerous small regional airlines operate between the islands, often with only a few flights per week. Anyone wanting to connect several Lesser Antilles is best off booking such connections early, since capacity is limited.

Sources: FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · Federal Foreign Office, Germany

What applies for entry, vaccinations and mosquito protection in the Caribbean?

In short

Swiss, German and Austrian visitors need no visa for vacations in almost all destinations on this page; usually a passport valid through departure is enough; Puerto Rico, like the rest of the USA, requires ESTA authorization. The major exception is Cuba, with an online visa and advance registration (as of September 2026); other nationalities are subject to their own rules, with the embassies and immigration authorities of the destination countries being authoritative.

Entry for vacations, selection (as of September 2026)
Destination	Visa CH/DE/AT	Special note
Cuba	online visa eVisaCuba	advance registration D'Viajeros 48 h before departure; check current travel advisories from the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA
Dominican Republic	visa-free up to 30 days	unified electronic form (E-Ticket) for entry and exit
Jamaica	visa-free up to 90 days	electronic pre-registration via PICA: Enter Jamaica
Puerto Rico	ESTA (as for the rest of the USA)	apply at least 72 h before departure, valid around two years
Cayman Islands	visa-free	return ticket required, usually 30 days' stay

A national ID card is not sufficient for Germans in any of the destinations listed; a passport is mandatory. Other nationalities are subject to their own rules, with the respective embassy or immigration authority of the destination country being authoritative.

Mosquito-borne diseases

healthytravel.ch names an active Zika transmission area for the Dominican Republic and advises pregnant women and women planning pregnancy against travel; a dengue vaccine (Qdenga) has been registered in Switzerland since July 2024. The Caribbean is also a region where dengue, Zika and chikungunya occur; consistent daytime mosquito protection is recommended.

Hurricanes and travel insurance

Because hurricane season from June to November affects many trips during that period, travel insurance covering cancellation and early return in the event of a storm warning is advisable. In the case of an official travel warning, insurers often cover cancellation costs only if the trip was booked before the warning; check this in individual cases before purchasing.

Cuba's special situation

Several structural issues come together for Cuba: a fault-prone power grid, limited medical care, and a payment system that cannot be relied on with international cards. Travelers should carry enough cash in US dollars or euros and check the current advisories from the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA again immediately before the trip.

Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · U.S. Customs and Border Protection · Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (Explore Cayman) · healthytravel.ch, Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

What does a trip to the Caribbean cost, and which currencies apply?

In short

The Caribbean has no uniform price level: Puerto Rico and the Turks and Caicos Islands use the US dollar directly, several Lesser Antilles use the fixed-peg Eastern Caribbean dollar, the ABC islands use the Aruban florin or the new Caribbean guilder, and Cuba has a dual currency with a heavily devalued peso. Outside Cuba, the US dollar is additionally accepted almost everywhere.

Currencies of selected Caribbean destinations (as of September 2026)
Destination	Currency	Peg to the US dollar
Cuba	Cuban peso (CUP), plus MLC cards	no fixed peg; the free-market rate is far above the official rate
Dominican Republic	Dominican peso (DOP)	no fixed peg
Jamaica	Jamaican dollar (JMD)	no fixed peg
Puerto Rico	US dollar (USD)	is the national currency
Cayman Islands	Cayman dollar (KYD)	fixed peg, 1 KYD = 1.20 USD since 1974
Bahamas	Bahamian dollar (BSD)	fixed 1:1 peg, both currencies circulate on equal footing
Turks and Caicos Islands	US dollar (USD)	is the national currency
Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St. Lucia, etc.	Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD)	fixed peg, 2.70 XCD = 1 USD since 1976 (Barbados dollar 2:1)
Guadeloupe, Martinique	Euro (EUR)	no peg to the US dollar
Aruba	Aruban florin (AWG)	fixed peg to the US dollar
Curaçao	Caribbean guilder (XCG), since 31 March 2025	pegged to the US dollar

Cuba is a special case: since the failed «Tarea Ordenamiento» currency reform in 2021, the peso has lost a great deal of value on the informal market. Because Visa and Mastercard payments do not work reliably, travelers depend on cash in US dollars or euros as well as local MLC cards.

In most other destinations, the US dollar is widely accepted alongside the national currency, especially at hotels and for organized excursions; for smaller purchases, local cash is still worthwhile, since the exchange rate at the hotel till is often worse than at a bank.

Sources: CiberCuba · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Wikipedia · Bonaire.com

Which languages, music and festivals shape the Caribbean?

In short

Spanish is the official language in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, English in Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas, French in Guadeloupe and Martinique, and Dutch alongside Papiamento in Aruba and Curaçao. Musically, reggae and dancehall (Jamaica), son and salsa (Cuba), merengue and bachata (Dominican Republic), and soca and calypso (Trinidad and Tobago) shape the region.

The region's best-known Carnival is that of Trinidad and Tobago in February or March, with soca music, steel-pan orchestras and colorful parades in Port of Spain. Cuba, with son and salsa, and the Dominican Republic, with merengue and bachata, have produced their own dance music styles known worldwide.

Jamaica shaped Caribbean pop music worldwide with reggae, ska and later dancehall; Kingston is considered the island's cultural center, with museums and studios devoted to music history. On the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, Creole language and music (zouk, gwoka) live on alongside official French.

Religiously, Catholicism (in the Spanish- and French-speaking destinations) and various Protestant churches (in the formerly British territories) shape the picture, often with Afro-Caribbean influences, for example in Cuban Santería.

The region's UNESCO World Heritage sites are especially dense culturally: Havana and Trinidad in Cuba, the colonial city of Santo Domingo, Old San Juan with La Fortaleza, the garrison of Bridgetown in Barbados, and the old town of Willemstad in Curaçao pack five centuries of European colonial history into a small area.

On Papiamento-speaking islands such as Aruba and Curaçao, African, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch heritage meet in a distinct Creole language, spoken widely in everyday life alongside Dutch and English.

Sources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre · UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Caribbean

What defines the Caribbean as a destination?

How do the Caribbean's four sub-regions differ?

When is the best time to visit the Caribbean?

Which destinations belong to which Caribbean sub-region?

Greater Antilles: Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands

Lesser Antilles: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago

ABC islands: Aruba and Curaçao

Lucayan Archipelago: Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands

Which types of trip suit which Caribbean destination?

Beach vacations and all-inclusive

Cruises

Culture and city trips

Diving and snorkeling

Active and nature trips

Honeymoons and weddings

Family vacations

How do you combine several Caribbean destinations in one trip?

Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico: the only through ferry connection

Within Puerto Rico: San Juan, Vieques and Culebra

Combining Cuba with Cancún or Miami

Cruises as a connecting option

The ABC islands as a circuit of their own

How do you fly to the Caribbean?

What applies for entry, vaccinations and mosquito protection in the Caribbean?

Mosquito-borne diseases

Hurricanes and travel insurance

Cuba's special situation

What does a trip to the Caribbean cost, and which currencies apply?

Which languages, music and festivals shape the Caribbean?

Worth combining

Destinations in this part of the world

Frequently asked questions

Where this information comes from

Plan Caribbean with AVA